Middle Tennessee & Alabama Railroad

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====== The Specifications ======
Factors that play into this specification:
  * Operational reliability
  * Ability for guests to operate the layout without deep understanding of the layout, railroad operations, or the technology
  * Cost
  * Ability to sustain transport

===== Layout Specifications =====
The layout will be based upon T-Trak standards; thus, it will be modular and portable.  Track will primarily be Kato Unitrack, modules will primarily be single size, double size, and corner modules, although there will be some custom modules for particular activities.  The custom modules may not be considered portable since they will not follow the T-Trak standards.

==== Yard Specifications ====

There will be no yard location of any significant size.  Since the imagined MT&A extends from Fayetteville to Madison, with connections on each end, there will be a small interchange yard (2 tracks) which can be used for both ends of the line.  This interchange yard will be used with cassettes to move trains on and off the layout.  There will also be a small engine servicing facility at Fayetteville (located near the two-track staging yard).

==== Wye Specifications ====

A wye, on a custom module, will be located on one corner of the layout.  This wye can used to turn trains as well as to access the staging area (Madison and Fayetteville) from either direction.  The wye will be part of one of the special modules that replaces a standard corner module, extending out from the corner.

==== Mainline Specifications ====

Since T-Trak is a double track system, it has been decided that the outside track will be used to lengthen the run of the trains.  This will mean that the outer track is treated as a mainline.  However, the inner track is also treated as a mainline, with the difference being that the inner track is where the connections to industrial sidings will occur.  Moving a train from the outer track to the inner track will be accomplished by a crossover system.  Portions of the inner track may also be treated as passing sidings at the same time.  This should be explained in more detail in the operations section of this site.

===== Time Specifications =====
A fast clock will be used in the operations of the MT&A.  The fast clock will be set to run at 4 times actual clock speed.  This will allow for a 24-hour day to run in about 6 hours, but since the MT&A doesn't usually run at night, a normal day of operations can be performed in 3 hours or less.

===== Control Specification =====
Control of the trains will be via a DigiTrax DCC system using wired throttles.  JMRI will be used for programming locomotives, so it will also be possible to use Engine Driver via JMRI's withrottle interface.  It will be possible to switch train control to DC by unplugging the DigiTrax DCC command station or booster.  However, no allowance will be made for multi-cab analog control other than the possibility of having two separate loops operating.  This would be for cases where the only desire is to run trains in circles, no real operation would be occurring.

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